The Next 60 Years of Service

The future looks bright for UWCC! We’re pursuing new research initiatives, moved to a new home within UW-Madison, and undertaking ambitious goals related to research; cooperative development; campus impact; and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Read more below.

Cooperative Governance Research Initiative

In 2021, we launched the Cooperative Governance Research Initiative (CGRI) to generate the data cooperatives need to benchmark, reflect on, and improve their governance practices. Our first CGRI survey yielded enthusiastic responses from 500 cooperatives. Learn more about our findings and how to become a Friend of CGRI here.

Our New Home: UW-Madison Division of Extension

We are excited to announce that in January 2023, UWCC moved to the UW-Madison Division of Extension!

Extension’s mission is to connect people with the University of Wisconsin. Extension employees strive to teach, learn, lead, and serve in ways that transform lives and communities. UWCC’s values and programs align closely with Extension’s mission and embody the Wisconsin Idea. Our research informs our education and outreach efforts; our relationships with new and established cooperatives guide our research questions and outreach programs; and our cooperative development efforts create sustainable enterprises that improve the lives of Wisconsin residents.

UWCC’s move to Extension is mutually beneficial—UWCC has a secure home in a division that shares our values, approach, and public service orientation; and Extension has gained a center with strong stakeholder support and a track record of delivering highly valued research, outreach, and education to cooperatives across the country.